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Thursday, 26 December 2013

The Battle of Malaga 1704

I’m currently in southern Spain, between Malaga and
Marbella, and looking southwards across a Mediterranean which is calm and blue
today but which yesterday was grey and overcast, with large white breakers
pounding on the beach. I needed no reminder of just how rough the Mediterranean
can be – back in 1977 I went through a Force 12 gale in a 165ft. dynamically-positioned
diving support vessel, the Kattenturm.
I was on the enclosed upper bridge but the only access to it was external, so
that the captain, first officer and I myself were essentially marooned there
for hours on end as waves and spray pounded it.

Kattenturm 1977 - one of the first dynamically positioned diving support vessels

The Mediterranean is narrow at the point I now am and
the mountains of the Moroccan shore are visible on a clear day. The Mediterranean
is funnelling towards the Straits of Gibraltar, and I’m looking out towards the
location of the Battle of Malaga on 24th August 1704, perhaps the
largest sea battle fought up to that time. The proximity to Gibraltar is
significant since it was the capture of “The Rock” at the beginning of that
month by a combined British-Dutch naval force that led to the battle. A heavy
naval bombardment preceded landing of marines at two points, one force launching
an attack southwards from the isthmus and another northwards from Europa Point
at Gibraltar’s southern tip. The Spanish defenders were heavily outnumbered and
outgunned and the governor surrendered. Gaining possession of Gibraltar was to
be not only one of the key events of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-14)
but one which was to have major strategic significance for Britain in all
subsequent wars and right up to our own day.

Dutch (left) and British (right) marines landing at Europa Point 1st August 1704

This strategic significance was immediately realised by the
French and Spanish, and the need for immediate recapture of Gibraltar was
decided on. A combined French and Spanish fleet sailed west towards Gibraltar from
their base at Malaga – several ships being towed out to sea by some of the
large galleys present. The total French-Spanish force consisted of over 60 sailing
warships, including some 17 1st and 2nd Rate vessels, and
no less than 24 rowed galleys. Nominal command was by the 28-year old Louis
Alexandre, Comte de Toulouse, a legitimated son of Louis XIV by one of his mistresses.
It is more likely however that actual command was by Toulouse’s deputy, Victor-Marie
d'Estrées, a competent 44-year old sailor whose experience extended back to the
Franco-Dutch War of the 1670s.

Alerted by intelligence that the French and Spanish had left
Malaga, the combined British-Dutch fleet moved eastwards from Gibraltar to meet
them. Overall command was under the 54-year old British Admiral George Rooke,
whose experience was as long as that of d'Estrées. Apart from his capture of
Gibraltar, Rooke had already scored a notable blow at the French-Spanish
alliance by destroying a Spanish treasure fleet at Vigo Bay in 1702. Rooke’s
combined British-Dutch force was roughly equal in numbers to the enemy – almost
60 ships – but had fewer 1st and 2nd rates and ammunition
stocks had been depleted by the recent bombardment at Gibraltar.

The Battle of Malaga - as painted by Isaac Sailmaker (1633-1721)

The fleets were to meet in two continuous parallel lines –
the preferred formation of the period – and favourable initial manoeuvring by
the British-Dutch force gave it the advantage of an upwind position. The battle
consisted of a long and bloody pounding match, ship against ship, and there
were no attempts to break the enemy line, as was to be such a feature of
Nelsonian tactics almost a century later. The casualties were to be high – over
2500 dead or wounded for the British-Dutch and 1600 for the French-Spanish. No
ship was sunk or captured by either side though many were very seriously
damaged and left barely seaworthy, one being a Dutch vessel which exploded the
following day. Little part was played in the action by the galleys – the rowers
of which must have endured hell, even if their vessels were not engaged – and
they appear to have been concentrated at the rear of the French-Spanish line.
Four galleys did however stage a concerted attack on a Dutch ship, the Gelderland, but were driven off by
gunfire.

Exhausted and battered, the fleets disengaged, the French
and Spanish returning to Toulon and Malaga and the British-Dutch to Gibraltar.
In view of the heavier British-Dutch casualties the French were to claim a
victory, but this could only be in the narrow tactical sense, for the action
had prevented recapture of Gibraltar. The Rock was to remain in British and Dutch
hands throughout the war, and in British hands thereafter. The analogy with the
Battle of Jutland – also arguably a tactical defeat for the Royal Navy but an
undoubted strategic victory – is very pronounced.

Notable as this battle was for its long-lasting strategic
implications, and for the huge number of ships involved, and for the high
casualty toll, and for the participation of galleys (perhaps the last time
British ships faced them?), this battle seems to have faded from popular
historic awareness. Looking out today on a calm sea I cannot but think sadly of
the 4000-plus casualties and the misery they represented for so many thousands
more and how different world history might have been in succeeding centuries
had the outcome been otherwise.

HMS Ark Royal and some of her Swordfish in 1939 before outbreak of war

There’s one other striking link with British naval history
as I look out from here. On 14th November 1941 the Royal Navy
carrier Ark Royal sank following a torpedo
attack by a U-Boat the previous day. She lies some 30 miles due east of
Gibraltar. Luckily she had remained afloat long enough for her entire
complement to be taken off. In the little over two years of wartime service the
Ark Royal had an almost unrivalled
record of intense action, including launching the Swordfish strike that
crippled the Bismarck.

Warfare is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.

About Me

My "Dawlish Chronicles" are set in the late 19th Century and reflect my deep interest in the politics, attitudes and technology of the period. The fifth novel in the series, “Britannia’s Amazon” is now available in both paperback and Kindle formats. It follows the four earlier Dawlish Chronicles, "Britannia's Wolf", "Britannia's Reach”, "Britannia's Shark" and "Britannia's Spartan". Click on the book covers below to learn more or to purchase.
I’ve had an adventurous career in the international energy industry and am proud of having worked in every continent except Antarctica. History is a driving passion in my life and I have travelled widely to visit sites of historical significance, many insights gained in this way being reflected in my writing. I welcome contact on Facebook and via this Blog. My website is www.dawlishchronicles.com and its “Conflict” section has a large number of articles on topics from the mid-18th Century to the early 20th Century.